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Ironman Boulder: Devine taking another step in her recovery

41-year-old set to race after overcoming cancer and bike accident

By Kyle Ringo

BuffZone.com Writer

Posted:
08/02/2014 04:29:18 PM MDT

Updated:
08/02/2014 04:30:09 PM MDT

Six years ago as Nancy Devine was trapped in a bed lacking the energy to do much of anything suffering the side effects of her chemotherapy treatments for colon cancer, she stared out a window at runners passing by.

"I was thinking, I'm never going to be able to run again," Devine said.

Nearly two years after her 2008 diagnosis, Devine was well on her way to beating the death sentence she initially believed she had been handed. She was in remission and back to training for triathlons. She zoomed down a mountainside on her bike on a windy September day, hit some uneven pavement in a distracted moment and crashed and broke her neck.

She says she has only fuzzy memories of going over her handlebars and bracing herself before blacking out. She woke up in extreme pain with two men standing over her. They had witnessed her crash from a passing car and stopped to help. One happened to be an off-duty EMT who had the training and experience not to move her.

"I pretty much destroyed my cervical vertebrae number three, which controls all your motor functions," she said. "It's pretty amazing I'm not in a wheelchair right now."

Not only is she not in a wheelchair, this morning Devine will take another step in her incredible recovery from the wicked disease and terrible accident by participating in her second full Ironman race. More than 3,000 people are registered for Boulder's first Ironman, which will be the largest Ironman ever held anywhere in the world.

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Devine is competing at a high level for a 41-year-old cancer survivor. She hopes to finish a course that includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and full marathon run in roughly 11 hours. Many of her fellow competitors will need several more hours to complete the challenge and some will begin the race wondering if they will finish at all in the 17-hours allotted.

Devine, who lives in Hygiene, made her triumphant return to racing in 2012 by completing her first full Ironman in Arizona. She has raced sparingly since. She views the sport she loves differently now than she did before cancer and the accident. She views a lot of things differently now.

"In the beginning it was a lot about competing against the other girls in my age group and who can I beat?," Devine said. "And what time does she have versus what do I have to do? Ironman Arizona really signified just racing for myself. I was smiling throughout the run and just really thinking all these inner thoughts."

Devine shared her story hoping to inspire others who are in similar circumstances to those she has overcome. Whether it's cancer, severe injuries or other difficult life events, Devine hopes others will see her as an example of how good things can come from bad.

Devine sees some correlations to participating in an Ironman and fighting cancer or overcoming a devastating injury. She said the racing is done alone just like her battle with cancer and recovery, but it also can't be done without the support of others.

She said she and many of her fellow competitors will draw fuel and inspiration from the cheering crowds during the Ironman race just as she was encouraged and buoyed by her sister Janet, brother-in-law Chad and friends and medical professionals.

"I know going through my two situations it was feeling alone but having my family and this great group of friends that really were the essence piece of my recovery and getting me through the really hard times," she said.

Devine has built a successful career for several decades as a sales manager for medical device company, but she is on the cusp of giving it up because she has a strong desire to give back to the world.

She wants to transform here eight-acre home in Hygiene into a dog sanctuary where expert dog trainers can come and train therapy dogs. She said hopes to eventually have a group of therapy dogs she can bring to Boulder and other communities on a regular basis to work with cancer patients and people with traumatic brain injuries.

"Now after these two things, what's important to me and my priorities have absolutely changed," she said. "Before it was all about closing these million dollar deals. I go into meetings now and I'm like, 'This is so stupid.' I'm not feeling accomplished any more."

That probably won't be the case around 6 p.m. this evening when this Ironwoman's fighting spirit pushes her across another line she once believed was out of reach.

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